Farhang & Mecoff promotes one, adds two

Legal News

Kacie Dillon has been promoted to partner at Farhang & Medcoff in Tucson and Phoenix. She represents individuals and businesses in tax controversy disputes with the IRS, Arizona Department of Revenue and taxing authorities. She also serves as team leader for the Phoenix office. Dillon received her law degree with distinction from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2007. Dan Zebelman and Laura Schiesl have joined the firm. Zebelman is a member of the litigation and bankruptcy groups, focusing in commercial, construction and real estate litigation, corporate law, real estate transactions, and representing both debtors and creditors in bankruptcy proceedings. He received his law degree cum laude from Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law in 2007. Schiesl focuses her practice on corporate litigation and counseling, and labor and employment matters. She received her law degree cum laude from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles in 2004.

Promotions and hires

Paul Charlton joined Steptoe & Johnson in Phoenix as a partner practicing in commercial litigation and white-collar criminal defense groups focusing on high-profile and complex litigation, internal investigations, and white-collar criminal defense. He previously served in the U.S. Attorney's office for 16 years, the last six as U.S. Attorney for Arizona upon nomination from President Bush in 2001. Charlton received his law degee from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1988.

Kris Carlson, an associate at Polsinelli in Phoenix, has been appointed to the American Health Lawyers Association Behavioral Health Task Force. He will serve as the co-chair of the Military/Veterans Work Group. As a former Green Beret for seven years prior to attending law school, he should offer great insight into understanding laws impacting mental health. Carlson practices in privacy and data security. He received his law degree with honors from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law in 2011.

Kathleen Brody and Joseph Roth have been named partners at Osborn Maledon in Phoenix. They both practice in civil litigation, criminal defense, government and internal investigations, and appeals. Brody also represents professionals in licensure, ethics and related proceedings. She received her law degree summa cum laude from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law in 2007. Roth focuses on economic and financial issues, including defending clients against antitrust and securities. He received his law degree from Columbia Law School in 2007.

Christopher Kramer, a Member at Dickinson Wright/Mariscal Weeks in Phoenix, has been appointed to the Eminent Domain and Land Use Committee of the Transportation Research Board. His practice emphasizes domain litigation, primarily the representation of condemning authorities. Kramer received his law degree from the University of Notre Dame School of Law in 1986.

Michelle Lauer, an associate at Jaburg Wilk in Phoenix, has been appointed to the Maricopa County Bar Association Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Section board of directors. Her practice includes estate planning, probate and guardianships and conservatorships. Lauer received her law degree from California Western School of Law.

Awards and honors

Joseph A. Kanefield, a partner at Ballard Spahr in Phoenix, has been elected to the American Law Institute, an independent organization of over 4,000 lawyers, judges and law professors that produces scholarly work to clarify, modernize, and otherwise improve the law. Kanefield focuses his practice on government relations, civil and appellate litigation, public-private partnerships, administrative law, state and local tax matters, gaming, and election and campaign-finance law. He received his law degree from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law in 1994.

Susan Plimpton Segal, a partner at Gust Rosenfeld in Phoenix, received the John R. McDonald Award from the Arizona School Boards Association in recognition for a school attorney who advanced public education in Arizona. Her practice focuses in education, municipal and public law. She received her law degree from the Arizona State University College of Law in 1979.

Greenberg Traurig has been named Law Firm of the Year in the U.S. News Best Lawyers 2014 edition of Best Law Firms in two categories: government relations and litigation-real estate.